Upgrade from 5850: which one? - Page 2

JasonPC · 12-22-10, 09:50 AM

There's a difference, it's just very small.

lapino · 12-23-10, 01:00 AM

So you're saying it's not worth to upgrade (yet) ?

Amuro · 12-23-10, 01:08 AM

GTX 595 and HD 6990 are both coming, so I'd wait. But your budget is 500 euros? 6970 CF is within grasp.

fivefeet8 · 12-23-10, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonPC

There's a difference, it's just very small.

If 20% to 30% faster is very small, what would constitute just small?

Intel17 · 12-23-10, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapino

So you're saying it's not worth to upgrade (yet) ?

I say either go with a 2nd 5850 for cheap, or just hang on to what you've got until things actually don't run well.

JasonPC · 12-23-10, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivefeet8

If 20% to 30% faster is very small, what would constitute just small?

20-30% only translates into a few fps difference. In my books that's pretty small, it won't really make the difference of one game not running well at all. But then again I tend to only upgrade when there's more than 100% difference in fps, so maybe I'm not the right one to ask. Though I see you're hanging onto an 8800 GTX so I'm sure you can kind of understand where I'm coming from.

lapino · 12-23-10, 10:54 AM

I've seen that a second 5850 would cost me about 200 Euro. Since I would only get about 150 euro for my current card, this would turn out quite a bit cheaper than getting a 580. So 2x5850 is what kind of performance? Also, does the second 5850 need to be the exact same card, or is just another 5850 ok?

Intel17 · 12-23-10, 10:59 AM

2x 5850's are about as fast as a 5970, and a 5970 is faster than a 580 GTX. Makes more sense, I think.

lapino · 12-23-10, 11:10 AM

Does the second card need to be exactly the same as the first one? Also, I currently have an Antec 500watt Earthwatt PSU, which has enough power connectors for SLI, but seems to be 'not SLI certified'. If this psu will give me trouble, which one should I get?

**Maverick123w** · 12-23-10, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapino

Does the second card need to be exactly the same as the first one? Also, I currently have an Antec 500watt Earthwatt PSU, which has enough power connectors for SLI, but seems to be 'not SLI certified'. If this psu will give me trouble, which one should I get?

I'd step up to a corsair 750 watt

fivefeet8 · 12-23-10, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonPC

20-30% only translates into a few fps difference. In my books that's pretty small, it won't really make the difference of one game not running well at all. But then again I tend to only upgrade when there's more than 100% difference in fps, so maybe I'm not the right one to ask. Though I see you're hanging onto an 8800 GTX so I'm sure you can kind of understand where I'm coming from.

It's the difference between 30 fps or 40 fps(25%). Also 50 fps or 65 fps(24%). This translates into the same increases for Min fps as well in most situations. I do understand where you're coming from, but we disagree on what very small differences in performance are. I'm holding on to my 8800gtx, but not because I upgrade for 100% performance difference.

I simply find the games I tend to play don't require it at the moment.

JasonPC · 12-23-10, 05:23 PM

The second 5850 doesn't have to be exactly the same, but I would highly recommend not buying a cheaper card that skimps on the heatsink. Buy a card with a decent (at least as good as stock) heatsink. By utilizing a second card you are going to increase the heat output in your case. The good news is that 5850s don't tend to get that hot. But the heatsink on the card makes all the difference.

12-22-10, 09:50 AM	#13
JasonPC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,103	Re: Upgrade from 5850: which one? There's a difference, it's just very small.

12-23-10, 01:00 AM	#14
lapino Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 194	Re: Upgrade from 5850: which one? So you're saying it's not worth to upgrade (yet) ?

12-23-10, 01:08 AM	#15
Amuro Newtype Ace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 3,206	Re: Upgrade from 5850: which one? GTX 595 and HD 6990 are both coming, so I'd wait. But your budget is 500 euros? 6970 CF is within grasp. __________________ Lian Li Armorsuit PC-P80 Black \| Intel Core i7-3960X @4.3Ghz \| Asus Rampage IV Extreme \| G.SKILL Ripjaws X 4 x 4GB @1866Mhz CL9 \|eVGA GTX 690 Hydro Copper \| Cruscial M4 512GB SATA III SSD \| WD VelociRaptor 300GB \| Samsung Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB \| Pioneer BDR-205BK 12x Blu-ray Burner \| Creative x-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Sound Card \| Corsair A1200 1200W PSU Water cooled by Koolance ERM-3K3UC Cooling System

12-23-10, 10:54 AM	#19
lapino Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 194	Re: Upgrade from 5850: which one? I've seen that a second 5850 would cost me about 200 Euro. Since I would only get about 150 euro for my current card, this would turn out quite a bit cheaper than getting a 580. So 2x5850 is what kind of performance? Also, does the second 5850 need to be the exact same card, or is just another 5850 ok?

12-23-10, 10:59 AM	#20
Intel17 Is not an Intel fanboi Join Date: May 2004 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 1,368	Re: Upgrade from 5850: which one? 2x 5850's are about as fast as a 5970, and a 5970 is faster than a 580 GTX. Makes more sense, I think. __________________ Intel Core i7 980X Extreme Edition @ 4.00GHz, 2.94GHz uncore\| Corsair H60 \| ASUS P6X58D-E \| Zotac GTX 580 @ 872/1744/2145\|Western Digital Caviar Black 1.5TB (Games/Steam)\| Seagate 1.5TB (media/misc.) \|Seagate 1 TB (OS/Main) \| 24 GB G.Skill RipJaws X 1.5V DDR3-1333 \| Creative X-Fi Titanium \| Sennheiser HD 202 Headset \| Dual Gigabit Realtek LAN \| Antec True Power Quattro 1200W \| Acer G235Hbmbd 23" LCD Display \| Logitech K320 Wireless Keyboard \| Logitech Performance MX Mouse

12-23-10, 11:10 AM	#21
lapino Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 194	Re: Upgrade from 5850: which one? Does the second card need to be exactly the same as the first one? Also, I currently have an Antec 500watt Earthwatt PSU, which has enough power connectors for SLI, but seems to be 'not SLI certified'. If this psu will give me trouble, which one should I get?

12-23-10, 05:23 PM	#24
JasonPC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,103	Re: Upgrade from 5850: which one? The second 5850 doesn't have to be exactly the same, but I would highly recommend not buying a cheaper card that skimps on the heatsink. Buy a card with a decent (at least as good as stock) heatsink. By utilizing a second card you are going to increase the heat output in your case. The good news is that 5850s don't tend to get that hot. But the heatsink on the card makes all the difference.